BARDONIA -- Deb Guarino recalls her niece’s first word being, “Kelly,” after her daughter. The verbal milestone likely did not occur because the toddler admired her three-year-old cousin, but rather she had grown accustomed to hearing it after Aunt Deb kept yelling at her daughter for dribbling a basketball in the house.

From an early age, there was no question in Guarino’s desire to play basketball. It spoke for itself. As she grew up, there was no question as to whether or not she could play at a high level. Her talent spoke for itself. And through injury, there is no question in her toughness -- both physical and mental. She is walking -- technically, hobbling -- proof of that now.

After garnering all-state recognition her sophomore year with Albertus Magnus, Guarino suffered three ACL tears -- one of which caused her to miss her junior year, the most recent of which cause her to miss the playoffs in her final high school season. Even with two ACL tears, Guarino was drawing interest from lower-Division I programs, but after a third, her dreams of playing D-I ball were dwindling.

The dreams became reality on Friday, when Guarino signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the New Jersey Institute of Technology, an independent Division I school formerly of the now-defunct Great West Conference.

Joined by mother, Guarino and Falcons teammate Ryan Doherty signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level. Doherty will stay local next season when she suits up for St. Thomas Aquinas College, a Division II program.

Guarino will redshirt next season, giving her added time to rehabilitate her left knee, before playing four years with a full-athletic scholarship. Guarino, who will have approximately six months of rehab time before returning to full-strength, underwent a successful knee surgery on March 23.

“There are times where you’re going to want to give up; times where nothing made sense and I didn’t know why this was happening to me, but I had to focus on attaining the silver lining,” she said. “When you come back on the court for the first time, it’s the best feeling in the world. Just like (Friday); everything I’ve gone through to make it here, I can’t ask for anything better.”

“Going through all the hard training, the blood, the sweat and tears and in the end, all your hard work will be worth it,” she added.

Sending two more players off to the collegiate stage may be familiar for Buckley (pictured right), but it certainly has not lost its luster.

“I’ve been very fortunate to have girls who love basketball and who are now going to take their game to the next level and get free educations,” Buckley said. “That’s the goal for a kid who loves basketball; if you can go and play at the next level, it’s tremendous. Both of these girls have worked so hard and have done all the work to deserve this.”

Guarino said that the overwhelming support from friends, family, fans and coaches helped her stay in a positive mindset. The senior admitted that, after the third ACL tear, there was some doubt towards her collegiate plans.

“All the support I’ve gotten, it’s been unreal,” Guarino said. “I kind of lost a little (hope); maybe I wouldn’t go on a full ride or something like that, but I stayed positive. It’s been amazing how this all worked out.”

It was emotional day for Deb Guarino, who held back tears throughout the event.

“I’m so proud of her. It chokes me up because she’s worked so hard,” she said of her daughter. “She’s such an inspiration. Of course, though, she learns that from her mother.”

Even Mama Guarino was skeptical that her daughter would play collegiate after a third ACL tear.

“In the back of my mind, I’m like, ‘Who’s going to want someone who’s hurt herself so many times?’” she said. “But it didn’t stop her. The second time, she came back stronger than ever. So I think the third time’s a charm. I think she going to come back really strong, and she has that year to really build up her hamstrings, her quads and everything to make her much stronger.”

Ms. Guarino added, “She’s never given up and I wouldn’t let her (give up) or feel sorry for herself; so it’s made her a strong person.” Buckley echoed those praises.

“She’s clearly a good enough player, and ACL (tears) now happen a lot,” Buckley said. “I think (NJIT is) smart, doing what they’re doing. She’s going to get a year off, basically, to get herself fully back, and then she has four years to play.”

“Since we were freshmen, and even last year when we saw (now Manhattan freshman) Maeve (Parahus) signing, me and Kelly watched and it was awesome for her to sign,” said Doherty, who was accompanied by her father. “It’s amazing to think that the day is finally here for us and that we can do it together. We’ve been playing together since, forever.”

Doherty, who fulfilled Guarino’s point guard responsibilities last season, said that Guarino leaving Albertus Magnus with a scholarship was only fitting. In addition to her family and the Albertus Magnus community, the senior thanked Falcons coaches Pat Buckley, Tom Anderson, Raul Lopez and AAU coaches John Reilly, Steven Loscher and Mike McLaughlin for their support.

“She’s so strong, and she deserves every second of it,” Doherty said. “She’s worked so hard for it. She’s just an unbelievable person and I couldn’t imagine her without a scholarship.

“She’s a great role model for a kid, an adult ­-- whatever you want to do in life, you’re going to hit bumps in the road. You have to keep battling, and she loves basketball -- that’s her passion; what can you say about her? She’s so resilient. The thought of not playing hasn’t even crossed her mind.”